SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA - Seoul Grand Park is set to commemorate the 40th anniversary of its cherished Botanical Garden with a special symposium on April 30th. The event, themed "40 Years of Roots, Planting the Future," will take place at 2 PM in the Seoul Grand Park Auditorium, offering a platform to reflect on the garden's rich history and cultivate its vision for the decades to come.
Since its establishment four decades ago, the Seoul Grand Park Botanical Garden has evolved beyond a mere collection of flora. It has diligently served as a vital public ecological and cultural institution, playing a pivotal role in biodiversity conservation, delivering crucial environmental education, and nurturing ecological awareness among the city's inhabitants.
The botanical garden holds a significant place in the history of Korean botanical preservation, tracing its lineage back to the historic Changgyeongwon and Namsan Botanical Gardens. This symposium will provide a valuable opportunity to illuminate this enduring legacy. Following the Changgyeonggung Palace restoration in 1983, the Seoul Grand Park Botanical Garden became the custodian of significant plant collections from the Changgyeongwon greenhouse. Furthermore, with the Namsan Renaissance Project in 2006, it also embraced and continues to manage the greenhouse plants from the now-defunct Namsan Botanical Garden.
These historical transfers have endowed Seoul Grand Park with invaluable plant genetic resources, including a remarkable 1,964 specimens spanning 644 species from Changgyeongwon and 1,478 plants representing 73 species from Namsan. This rich inheritance allows Seoul Grand Park to proudly continue the 116-year lineage of Korean botanical gardens, a tradition that began with the opening of the grand greenhouse at Changgyeongwon in 1909. Today, the Seoul Grand Park Botanical Garden stands as a living testament to this history, showcasing plants from both Changgyeongwon and Namsan, their intertwined stories continuing to unfold.
A key focus of the symposium will be the profound public value of the botanical garden, particularly as a vital resource for ecological education and a lasting legacy for future generations through the unique coexistence of plant and animal life within Seoul Grand Park.
Under the overarching theme of "New Values of the Botanical Garden Blooming through Coexistence and Cooperation," the symposium will feature a series of insightful presentations. Experts will delve into the significance of the botanical garden from the perspective of the adjacent zoo, explore innovative approaches to integrated plant and animal education, and underscore the critical importance of species conservation for the generations to come.
The distinguished panel of speakers includes five renowned experts in the field. Among them are Lee You-mi, former Director of the Korea National Arboretum, and Uh Kyung-yeon, former Director of the Seoul Zoo. These and other leading voices will contribute their expertise to a comprehensive discussion centered on the evolving public role of botanical gardens in engaging and educating future generations.
The symposium is expected to draw approximately 70 attendees, including representatives from botanical gardens and zoos across the nation, as well as interested members of the general public. This gathering will provide a valuable platform for networking and exchanging ideas on the historical trajectory and future direction of botanical gardens in Korea. Notably, Lim Young-seok, the current Director of the Korea National Arboretum, is also slated to attend.
Participants in this significant event will receive a special 40th-anniversary commemorative booklet, chronicling the rich history and promising future of the Seoul Grand Park Botanical Garden. Additionally, attendees will be presented with charming gifts, including a pitcher plant pot and character souvenirs, as tokens of appreciation for their participation. Members of the public eager to attend this insightful symposium are encouraged to register on a first-come, first-served basis through the Seoul Metropolitan Government Public Service Reservation System.
Park Jin-soon, the Director of Seoul Grand Park, conveyed his vision for the future, stating, "Seoul Grand Park will continue its evolution as a vital public resource that fosters healing and recovery for urban residents, cultivates ecological sensitivity, and actively responds to the challenges of the climate crisis. This symposium marks a crucial milestone, connecting the past achievements with the future aspirations for the operation of our botanical garden."
As Seoul Grand Park celebrates four decades of verdant growth and ecological stewardship, this symposium promises to be a significant event, sowing the seeds for an even more vibrant and impactful future for its beloved Botanical Garden. The discussions and insights shared will undoubtedly contribute to the ongoing development of botanical gardens as essential centers for conservation, education, and community engagement in the years to come.
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